Antioxidants found in apples, such as quercetin, might be an effective supplement for active people because they prevent illness, improve cell aerobic capacity, and may increase lifespan.
A study from the Chinese University in Hong Kong found that fruit flies fed apple extract lived 10 percent longer than animals not given the supplement. Quercetin is an antioxidant that is also found in cranberries, blueberries, onions, tea, and red wine. Other studies have found that eating only one apple a day promotes weight control and suppresses appetite. We can’t say for sure whether eating apples will make you live longer, but it is a healthy food. (Journal Agriculture Food Chemistry, 59: 2097-2106, 2011)